A 55-year-old African man was found unconscious at Al Doha airport in
the state of Qatar at 11:00 am. The patient was unconscious, tachypnic,
pupils were fixed and dilated, blood pressure 150/90mmHg, Pulse 105/min,
and the oral temperature was 37.0° C. Because the individual was alone and unresponsive no past medical history was obtained. The patient was taken from the airport to the accident and emergency (A&E) department. Upon arrival to the A&E department he developed generalized seizures. On examination, the patient was unconscious, tachypnic, afebrile, pupils were fixed and dilated, blood pressure 150/90mmHg, Pulse 105/min and the oral temperature was 37.0° C. Arterial blood gas analysis at room air showed pH = 7.468, pO2 = 65 mm Hg, pCO2 = 30 mm Hg, HCO3 24 mmol/L.

The haemoglobin, platelets, leucocyte count, blood sugar, serum electrolytes,
and serum creatinine, were within normal range. Liver function test and
coagulation profile were normal, as well as brain computed tomography scans.
The remainder of the examination was unremarkable. He was intubated and
admitted to medical intensive care unit.

Plain abdomen X-ray showed two packets in the stomach [Figure
- 1]a and one packet in the rectum [Figure
- 1]b. The packets were removed by an endoscopy. [Figure
- 2]a showed one of the removed packets from the stomach. [Figure
- 2]b the packet removed from the rectum. Each packet weight approximately 80 grams.

After removing the packets, the patient was treated conservatively,
he regained his consciousness after five days. Analysis of the materials
in
the packets revealed cocaine which was also detected in the urine. The
patient was seen by a psychiatrist and later on he was taken to the prison.

Body packers are people who illegally carry drugs, mostly cocaine and
heroin, concealed within their bodies. The packets can be made of various
materials,
but most often are condoms, which are easily available on the market.
The packets are inserted in the mouth, rectum or vagina in order to
get across
borders without being detected.

After the body packer swallows these packets, Constipating agents,
such as diphenoxylate or loperamide, are frequently used.[1] Transit
times may be as brief as one or two days or as long as two to three
weeks. After entering the country of destination, body packers use
laxatives,
cathartics, or enemas to help pass their cargo rectally.[2]

Body packers usually present to health care providers for one of
three reasons,[3] : drug-induced
toxic effects, intestinal obstruction, or medical assessment after
detention or arrest. This patient developed life threatening cocaine
toxicity from
leakage of the contents of these packages into his bowels.

A detailed history should be obtained. However, body packers are
often dishonest historians. In rare cases, like in this case, patients
may
be unable to provide a history owing to profound drug-induced toxic
effects.

Body packing should be suspected in anyone with signs of drug-induced
toxic effects after a recent arrival on an international flight
or when there
is no history of recreational drug use.

Patients who are asymptomatic can be treated conservatively
and expectantly until the packets pass. Whole bowel irrigation
(WBI)
should be started
with a polyethylene glycol/electrolyte lavage solution.[4],[5]

Although endoscpic removal of packets is acceptable, It has
generally become accepted that cocaine body packers who show
signs of cocaine
toxicity or
gastrointestinal obstruction should undergo immediate emergency
surgery.